Every week during the regular season we get an opportunity to talk with the opposing head coach via conference call. This week it was Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy. I also scanned the Chicago area media websites and the Bears website, to see what else the Bears players and coaches are saying about this week's matchup with the Lions.
Here's what they had to say:
1. The NFL's decision to flex Chicago's Week 11 game against the Vikings to Sunday night means the Bears are the first team since the 1970 merger to play a Thursday 1 p.m. or earlier game on three days rest immediately following a primetime game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
What has that meant for Chicago's preparations this week?
"I have not gone back and watched the tape of the Vikings game, so we're on to Detroit," Nagy told ESPN Chicago on Monday. "What I saw (Sunday) night was what I saw. We're moving on here to Detroit."
2. Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is "day-to-to" according to Nagy after injuring his right throwing shoulder in the fourth quarter of Chicago's win over Minnesota.
If Trubisky can't go, Nagy has all the confidence in backup Chase Daniel, who he also coached for four years in Kansas City. Nagy said nothing changes on offense if Daniel plays.
3. Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay is coming off a terrific performance against Carolina on Sunday, but he also caught six passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in the first matchup with Chicago. Nagy says the most impressive thing about Golladay's game are his ball skills. Nagy described Golladay overall as a "hell of a player."
4. The Lions have been much better the last two weeks defending the run, holding Chicago and Carolina to a combined 100 rushing yards. One of the fun things about coaching, according to Nagy, is trying to find ways to counteract what the opponent does or is doing well at the time. From week to week that's different, and it's what Nagy says is one of the fun parts about the job. Expect him and the Bears' offense to try and crack Detroit's code for playing good defense in the run game the last couple games.
5. One thing Nagy noticed from Detroit's offense last week against Carolina was how quickly quarterback Matthew Stafford got the ball out of his hands. Stafford was sacked just once against Carolina. That after being sacked six times by the Bears and 10 times the week prior by Minnesota. Nagy called it "good coaching" on the part of head coach Matt Patricia and his staff on making that adjustment. How will Nagy and Co. counter it Thursday?
6. Bears running back Tarik Cohen told chicagobears.com that playing a familiar opponent in Detroit on a short week is a big benefit because they don't have to do anything crazy in terms of game planning because the teams know each other so well.
"We're just ready to get back at it," Cohen said.
7. Detroit was without the services of All-Pro cornerback Darius Slay in the first contest. Slay is one of those players on defense that Nagy says an offense always has to know where he is before they snap the ball. That's pretty high praise from an offensive-minded head coach.
